is the desire for eternal life - a form of self gratification?

Question

in that it is all about the individual wanting something - ie not to die

doesn't it amount to greed to want more life than we obviously have (ie about 70 odd years)?

Answer 1

Self realisation should not be confused with self gratification in the context of your question, the material corporeal body is destined to be vanquished sooner or later, the material body is constantly changing, it is in a constant state of flux and perpetual motion, empirical science has proven that ever seven years, every cell in the body changes, so the body you were driving around seven years ago, is different to the one you have now.

Although the material body is subject to change, the living entity inside the body is eternal, the subtle mind in a conditioned state is also subject to change and modification, however when the mind is purified, the spirit soul can be perceived.

So it is not a matter of what we want, or creating a fictitious elaborate doctrine or philosophy to deal with the fear of death, the fact we are eternal spirit souls and not these temporary material bodies is the absolute truth, which is something anyone
can discover using an open minded attitude as the first step.

To discuss further:-Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari ([e-mail])

Answer 2

I'd say it is much more than self gratification. Eternal life is not usually something a person receives after doing a "good job" or gets and feels better about themselves for a moment. Eternal life on earth is impossible therefore is desired by people who are interested more in self preservation and overall are probably pretty self loving preoccupied people and wouldn't be worth talking to for three minutes.

Answer 3

Do you work a job for free? Or do you accept payment for the work you do? Because if your theory is what you truly live by, and you actually feel that way, What in this world are you doing taking money for what you do for a livin? Could it be because is is a form of self gratification?

The point is that we are all going to die someday. God gave eveyone the same opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with Him through accepting Jesus as our savior. We are accepting the biggest gift of love that anyone has ever offered to us in our entire life time. If you dont want it, thats fine, then dont'; take it. No one is forcing you.

Do you accept your pay check out of greed? You must... because if you didnt' you would be working for free. Your theory does not just apply to salvation from the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. You cannot pick and choose what you are willilng to accept just in order to conform it to your personal lifestyle.

I am born again, and I am going to Heaven, And I do praise the Lord for this "free" gift every day that God blesses me with. Praise the Lord!!

When you are given gifts for you birthday, anniversary, even Christmas, are you accepting them out of the love they were given, or out of "self gratification and greed"?
Eternal life is a free gift from God and Jesus and is recieved in that same love. Your greed comes from the fact that you are not willing to give up your sinful lifestyle in place of that free gift from God, which is a far greater life than what you will ever have on this earth.

Answer 4

All one can say is that the road to eternal life or heaven', is not an easy one, the road is narrow, and the road to hell if you believe in it is wide and paved with 'good intentions'. There is more self-denial than self-gratification. No one wants to die, there is self-preservation inbuilt at least physically, and it is a rather nice thought that one can or will live forever. Better than oblivion!.

Answer 5

Think of eternal life like an on-going orgasm that never ends. We learn all we have to about this life and when we go to the next higher life we can know the difference.

Answer 6

Bible says we were made with 'eternity in our hearts'

Eccl 3:11 Everything he has made pretty in its time. Even time indefinite he has put in their heart, that mankind may never find out the work that the [true] God has made from the start to the finish.

If a tree can live hundreds or thousands of years, why shouldn't we?

Answer 7

Eternal life is cool, but I think you're missing the main point.........it's eternal life with JESUS. The reason we want to go to Heaven is not because we get to live forever in a beautiful place, it's because we will get to be with our Lord forever.

Answer 8

Yes, all of us want eternal life therefore, we have self-gratification.

Answer 9

Eternal life is a promise that Jesus will live with us, no more sin, or etc. only love and to live with our precious Lord for eternity..wow what a promise God made to us, greed, no I don't think so,..Love for Christ ,YES. self gratification..NO....I want to see my Saviour who came and suffered unto death so that I (we) may live, He loved us that much..wouldn't you want to spend eternity with someone who loved you that much.

Answer 10

Yes, the only people who yearn for eternal life are the rich and idle,or religious lunatics